Fuel guage problem and Vibration

[dchuraman]

Hi
2 issues at the moment so ill try to keep it short.

Firstly, ever since ive had the car (1.8t FWD) ive had problems with the fuel readings. I know all cars will fluctuate a little, but for example, after putting in £10 of fuel, the gauge reads something like 70 miles, and the needle matches what i think is the correct reading, however, even after driving on flat roads, the fuel can jump around massively, going all the way down to 45 and up to 85. This isnt a huge deal as i know the DIS isnt that accurate, but today, i was on a hill pointing down, and had just put fuel in to make it about 70 miles, by the bottom of the hill, the gauge was reading 15 miles, and wont go up. This has been happening for ages and so i dont really know how much fuel i have. Its worth noting that the gauge and the DIS always seem to match up in their readings, even if the reading seems way off.

Secondly, i have a lot of vibration coming in at around 1300-1800 rpm, i can feel it through the steering wheel, so much that the wheel actually makles a rattling noise as is the airbag cover is rattling against the rest of the wheel. I also get the same sort of vibration when travelling over ground such as rumble strips or slightly rough ground, but when i hit some big bumps, i dont tend to feel it as much. Its getting quite annoying and really removes the refinement of the drive. Any ideas? I know one of my CV joints needs replacing but i didnt think it could cause those sort of symptoms?

Thanks a lot

[fourringsrus]

fuel tank gauge/sender ....vagcom
Vibration,...without insulting your integrity and it might sound like a mickey take,firstly check
wheel bolts for tightness
visual check at strut top and bottom
with wheel jacked up off ground,can you shake/move side to side
check steering joints/ball joints /wishbone bushes/joints for apparrent excessive /abnormal wear/movement
just a few things
you may be able to check with your own eyes,before going down the garage route
HOPE this is of some help
ps,...how bad is the cv joint? these can really rumble
Stuart

[Zeb]

Hi
2 issues at the moment so ill try to keep it short.

Firstly, ever since ive had the car (1.8t FWD) ive had problems with the fuel readings. I know all cars will fluctuate a little, but for example, after putting in £10 of fuel, the gauge reads something like 70 miles, and the needle matches what i think is the correct reading, however, even after driving on flat roads, the fuel can jump around massively, going all the way down to 45 and up to 85. This isnt a huge deal as i know the DIS isnt that accurate, but today, i was on a hill pointing down, and had just put fuel in to make it about 70 miles, by the bottom of the hill, the gauge was reading 15 miles, and wont go up. This has been happening for ages and so i dont really know how much fuel i have. Its worth noting that the gauge and the DIS always seem to match up in their readings, even if the reading seems way off.

Thanks a lot

I had a similar problem with my fuel gauge, even the needle was going up and down, whenever I use to put in £10 worth of diesel. I had this problem for about 2 weeks. I was then told that it is the Fuel Tank sender unit which keeps on messing up. It cost me £130 to replace it with a new one!!

Hope this helps!!!

[dchuraman]

yeah i was thinking it was the sender unit, more moeny to spend, spent so much on it recently!

[benjie]

Hope this isn't too-stupid a suggestion, but check your tyres for a nail or an embedded stone etc. A few friends have had the same vibration happen and it turned out to be this.

[Zeb]

yeah i was thinking it was the sender unit, more moeny to spend, spent so much on it recently!

That's what you get with german cars!!!! Money, money, money...

[RickT]

Fuel sender unit..... £130.00... you did well...

Mine cost £176.00 at trade price, retailed at £251.00!!

My issue was the fuel pump had stopped working, but the unit also covers the gauge.

Cheers

Rick

[Zeb]

Fuel sender unit..... £130.00... you did well...

Mine cost £176.00 at trade price, retailed at £251.00!!

My issue was the fuel pump had stopped working, but the unit also covers the gauge.

Cheers

Rick

That cost you alot just to replace the sender unit!!!!

[RickT]

That cost you alot just to replace the sender unit!!!!

Fuel pump too, which has got the sender unit built in.

[Zeb]

Fuel pump too, which has got the sender unit built in.

Ah rite,

I never changed my fuel pump, just the unit!!!